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12-07-2003, 06:52 PM
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#1 |
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Guest
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Ohio
Posts: 6,330
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The value of Federal League stats
Looking at the makeup of Federal League teams, it seems pretty clear that the talent level didn't match that of the AL and NL. Only 24% of their players appeared in major leagues both before and after the 1914-15 period, as compared to 39% in the AL and 44% in the NL. I don't know how much those numbers are influenced by factors such as AL/NL teams' relucatance to sign or re-sign those who played in the Federal League after its demise. What I'm wondering is whether the Federal League was as inferior to the AL and NL as the numbers would indicate, or whether it was a valid "third major league."
Was it such a third league, or would you think of it as equivalent to a minor league? And ultimately, should the stats from the FL count as major league stats in players' career totals? |
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12-07-2003, 07:26 PM
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#2 |
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NetShrine All-Century Team
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NJ
Posts: 14,584
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I think this single stat says volumes about the level of play in the Federal League--
The highest single season RSAA since 1900 was achieved by Cy Falkenberg, in the Federal League in 1914. In his time in the AL & NL, he had a negative career figure.
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12-07-2003, 07:56 PM
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#3 |
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NetShrine's Historian
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Zionsville, IN
Posts: 10,569
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Craig - the FL is a few steps above the UA - but nowhere near the caliber of the AA, PL, or NA. I think the only reason you count them as ML stats is that they've always been counted. (Not a good answer, but it is one).
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12-07-2003, 09:25 PM
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#4 |
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Netshrine Cleanup Hitter
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: The Mountain State
Posts: 8,883
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The FL was probably about the level of a good AAA league, or the Japanese Leagues today. Since a large number of major leaguers did play there, they have traditionally been counted as major league stats.
I don't have a big problem with it. We just have to remember to discount them a little when comparing. |
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12-08-2003, 09:44 AM
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#5 | |
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NetShrine All-Century Team
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Winter Springs, FL
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Quote:
Exactly right
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12-08-2003, 10:51 AM
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#6 |
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NetShrine All-Century Team
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Home of the T-Bones
Posts: 11,116
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After 85+ years just best leave it as it is.
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12-09-2003, 12:26 AM
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#7 |
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NS Omnipresent Brasilian
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Crazy George's playground
Posts: 10,903
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agreed...unless you want to discuss its validity as a major league
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12-09-2003, 09:20 AM
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#8 | |
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Membership Suspended 4/11/04
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Tacoma, WA
Posts: 3,783
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Quote:
That stat doesn't say a damn thing.  I personally am torn whether I feel the FL is open classification or AAA. On one hand, the number of no-names in the league was quite severe, and most never did amount to anything. On the other hand, some very good players did come out of it, and in a few cases came to it over the established leagues. However, I'll accept it being a major league. Not accepting it as a major league would be revisionistic, and I'm not a fan of revisionist history. Or something. I can't think of a good reason, just that I'm not going to bother not accepting it. |
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